Climatology of Dust Deposition in the Adriatic Sea; a Possible Impact on Marine Production

Abstract

Atmospheric mineral dust deposition plays an important role in providing nutrients to marine ecosystems. In this study, the climatology of dust deposition in the Adriatic Sea area was determined for the first time based on Modern‐Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 reanalysis from 1989 to 2019. The annual cycle of deposition exhibits two maxima: a stronger maxima in March–April and a weaker maxima in November. Wet deposition is a dominant process with a relative contribution to overall deposition from 67.35% to 88.53%. Deposition hot spots are along the Montenegrin coast and Otrant. The average contribution of dust deposition events (DDEs) is 16.5% (60.2 dy yr−1), with the strongest deposition during 1999–2009 and a positive trend in deposited mass during the study period. The effect of dust deposition on primary production is observed by a high level of oxygen saturation up to 250% (usually it is lower, up to 150%) in the stratified middle water layer (5–8 m) of the central Adriatic marine system (Rogoznica Lake) during an intense wet deposition episode. Such extreme values of oxygen saturation can be taken as an indication of biological activity related to an increase in phytoplankton abundance and activity, diatoms in particular.

Exposure Assessment of Ambient PM2.5 Levels during a Sequence of Dust Episodes: A Case Study Coupling the WRF-Chem Model with GIS-Based Postprocessing

“…The annual cycle of dust aerosols shows maxima at spring (April/May) and summer (June/July) over the Mediterranean, according to the analysis of satellite data retrieved for a 15-year period in the work by Gavrouzou et al [ 8 ]. Mifka et al [ 9 ] depicted the typical scenario resulting in highest dust deposition in the Adriatic Sea, with dust sources located in north-western Africa (Algeria, Libya, and Morocco) and synoptic conditions characterized by an upper-level trough and a deep cyclone over the central Mediterranean.…”

Intense Desert Dust Event in the Northern Adriatic (March 2020); Insights From the Numerical Model Application and Chemical Characterization Results

“…Dust aerosols have an impact on radiation (Li & Sokolik, 2018) and cloud microphysics (Tsarpalis et al., 2020). When deposited in the ocean (Richon et al., 2018) or on land (Kylander et al., 2018), they provide micronutrients to ecosystems (Mifka et al., 2022b).…”

“…Dust transport over the Mediterranean Sea depends strongly on Mediterranean cyclones (e.g., Fiedler et al., 2014; Flaounas et al., 2022; Schepanski et al., 2016). Despite the sporadic nature of the outbreaks, the highest dust levels in the eastern and central Mediterranean region occur in March and April (Barnaba & Gobbi, 2004; Mifka et al., 2022b; Moulin et al., 1998). In spring, the strong baroclinic gradients at the surface between the cold sea surface and the warm North African soil, together with the lee effect of the Atlas Mountains, lead to the development of Sharav cyclones that move rapidly eastward at a speed of about 10 ms −1 and cross the Mediterranean Sea between Libya and Egypt (Alpert & Ziv, 1989).…”

“…The dust uplift is associated with the intense warm front and can reach heights of 500 hPa and above. The meridional component of the wind dominates the zonal one (Varga, 2020), resulting in intense dust transport toward the central Mediterranean, including the Adriatic Sea (Mifka et al., 2022b). Studies on dust case modeling in the Mediterranean are becoming more frequent, leading to operational dust forecasts of global and regional nature (Benedetti et al., 2014).…”

“…Dust aerosols have an impact on radiation (Li & Sokolik, 2018) and cloud microphysics (Tsarpalis et al, 2020). When deposited in the ocean (Richon et al, 2018) or on land (Kylander et al, 2018), they provide micronutrients to ecosystems (Mifka et al, 2022b).The general problem with estimating dust emissions is the lack of measurements over the vast desert areas, and dust emissions are obtained from models that are highly variable in their estimates. This affects the simulated dust concentration in the air, especially deposition, which is rarely measured (Vincent et al, 2016).…”